Testing for new physics with low-energy anti-neutrino sources: LAMA as a case study

Some electroweak models with extended neutral currents, such as those based on the E6 group, lead to an increase of the ν¯−e scattering cross section at energies below 100 keV. We propose to search for the heavy Z' boson contribution in an experiment with a high-activity artificial neutrino source and with a large-mass detector. We present the case for the LAMA experiment with a large NaI(Tl) detector located at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. The neutrino flux is known to within a one percent accuracy, in contrast to the reactor case and one can reach lower neutrino energies. Both features make our proposed experiment more sensitive to extended gauge models, such as the χ model. For a low enough background the sensitivity to the Zχ boson mass would reach 600 GeV for one year running of the experiment

Price assymetry in the Dutch retail gasoline market

This paper analyses retail price adjustments in the Dutch gasoline market. We estimate an asymmetric error correction model on weekly price changes for the years 1996 to 2001. We construct five datasets, one for each working day. The conclusions on asymmetric pricing are shown to differ over these datasets, suggesting that the choice of the day for which prices are observed matters more than commonly believed. In our view, the insufficient robustness of outcomes might explain the mixed conclusions found in the literature. Using two approaches, we also show that the effect of asymmetry on Dutch consumer costs is negligible

A Study of Radioactive Contamination of 40Ca100MoO4 Crystals for the AMoRE Experiment

A calcium molybdate (CaMoO4) crystal scintillator, with molybdenum enriched in 100Mo and calcium depleted in 48Ca (40Ca100MoO4), was developed by the Advanced Molybdenum based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE) collaboration to search for a neutrinoless double beta (0ν β β) decay of 100Mo. We are planning to use about 10 kg of 40Ca100MoO4 crystals as cryogenic bolometers for the first phase of the experiment (AMoRE-I) at the Yang Yang underground laboratory (Y2L) in Korea. This experiment calls for an extremely low level of radioactive contamination in detectors, particularly by thorium, uranium, and radium decay chains. We measured scintillation properties and radioactive contamination of CaMoO4 and 40Ca100MoO4 crystals at the Y2L. We also estimated the acceptable level of internal radioactive background using Monte Carlo simulation for the AMoRE-I. © 2016 IEEE1681Nsciescopu

First results from GERDA Phase II

Gerda is designed for a background-free search of (76)Ge neutrinoless double-β decay, using bare Ge detectors in liquid Ar. The experiment was upgraded after the successful completion of Phase I to double the target mass and further reduce the background. Newly-designed Ge detectors were installed along with LAr scintillation sensors. Phase II of data-taking started in Dec 2015 with approximately 36 kg of Ge detectors and is currently ongoing. The first results based on 10.8 kg· yr of exposure are presented. The background goal of 10(−)(3) cts/(keV· kg· yr) is achieved and a search for neutrinoless double-β decay is performed by combining Phase I and II data. No signal is found and a new limit is set at $T_{1/2}^{0\nu } > 5.3 \cdot {10^{25}}$ yr (90% C.L.)

Study of the GERDA Phase II background spectrum

The Gerda experiment, located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy, searches for the neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of (76)Ge. Gerda Phase II is aiming to reach a sensitivity for the 0νββ half life of 10(26) yr in ∼ 3 years of physics data taking with 100 kg·yr of exposure and a background index of ∼ 10(−)(3) cts/(keV·kg·yr). After 6 months of acquisition a first data release with 10.8 kg·yr of exposure is performed, showing that the design background is achieved. In this work a study of the Phase II background spectrum, the main spectral structures and the background sources will be presented and discussed

Search for neutrinoless double beta decay with GERDA phase II

In the first five month of data taking 10.8 kg yr of exposure were accumulated. No signal has been found and together with data from Phase I a new limit for the neutrinoless double beta decay half-life of 76Ge of 5.3 · 1025 yr at 90% C.L. was established in June 2016. Phase II data taking is ongoing and will allow the exploration of half-lifes in the 1026 yr regime. The current status of data taking and an update on the background index are presented